The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) at Cal State San Bernardino hosted a public reception for its latest exhibition, “Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today,” on Sept. 5. The event drew 134 attendees, offering them an immersive experience in Korean artistry, culture and tradition.

“The exhibition is a visually stimulating and culturally relevant gift for the campus community, as well as the Inland Empire,” said Merry Scully, RAFFMA museum director.

The reception began with a tour of the exhibit led by curators Hyeran Jung and Hye-kyung Park, both from Sookmyung Women’s University Museum (SWUM) in Seoul, South Korea. The curators guided guests through the exhibit’s intricate collection of traditional and contemporary Korean crafts, with Bomi Hwang, exhibit manager and lecturer of World Languages and Literatures, providing translations.

Bomi Hwang, exhibit manager and lecturer of World Languages and Literatures, and Hye-kyung Park, exhibit curator from Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea, led a tour of the exhibit.
Bomi Hwang, exhibit manager and lecturer of World Languages and Literatures, (at left, in white suit), and Hyeran Jung, exhibit curator from Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea, led a tour of the exhibit.

Attendees gained insight into the techniques, materials and cultural significance of the works on display, many of which were used in the daily lives of Korea’s ruling elite class, the sadaebu, from the 15th to 20th centuries.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales delivered opening remarks, celebrating the exhibition as a testament to the university's dedication to cultural exchange and global learning. Rueyling Chuang, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, also spoke about the exhibit and the collaboration, which helped bring this unique cultural experience to the campus. Tammy Cho, representing Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA) Director Sangwon Jung, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with CSUSB and the opportunity to share Korea's artistic legacy with the Southern California community.

From left, Park, curator, Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea; Merry Scully, RAFFMA museum director; Hwang, exhibit manager and lecturer of World Languages and Literatures; Hyeran Jung, curator, Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea; Tammy Cho, curator, Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles
From left, Hye-kyung Park, curator, Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea; Merry Scully, RAFFMA museum director; Bomi Hwang, exhibit manager and lecturer of World Languages and Literatures; Hyeran Jung, curator, Sookmyung Women’s University Museum in Seoul, South Korea; Tammy Cho, curator, Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles

“This international collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles and Sookmyung Women’s University Museum came together through our shared belief in the value of arts and culture exchange to the educational process,” said Scully. “More broadly ‘Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today’ expresses RAFFMA’s commitment to cultural exchange as an aid to understanding and appreciating one another and reaffirms CSUSB’s commitment to participating in a globally connected society. The process of preparing for the exhibition over this past year also provided a rich learning experience for the student assistants who participated in the production of the exhibition.” 

An attendee studies a piece from the “Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today” exhibit.
An attendee studies a piece from the “Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today” exhibit.

In addition to the tour and remarks, Arianna Huhn, director of CSUSB’s Education Abroad, was present to discuss opportunities for exchange programs in South Korea, further strengthening ties between the two cultures. Attendees also enjoyed an Asian-inspired menu crafted by CSUSB’s Coyote Catering, which provided a culinary complement to the artistic and cultural atmosphere of the event.

The “Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today” exhibit includes a collection of traditional and contemporary Korean crafts.
The “Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today” exhibit includes a collection of traditional and contemporary Korean crafts.

“Korean Craft: Yesterday and Today” was made possible through the support of SWUM Director Saejune Kim, KCCLA Director Sangwon Jung, and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange.

The traveling exhibit, on view from Sept. 7-Dec. 7 at RAFFMA, invites viewers to appreciate the historical and artistic significance of Korean crafts and offers a rare glimpse into the cultural practices that have shaped the nation’s identity for centuries.

The exhibit will be on view from Sept. 7-Dec. 7 at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art.
The exhibit will be on view from Sept. 7-Dec. 7 at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art.